ISLAMABAD: Following the confirmation of the first Monkeypox (mpox) case in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday instructed the enhancement of screening systems’ efficiency. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator on National Health Services, reassured the public not to panic, emphasizing that the virus has a low mortality rate.
During a press conference, Dr. Ahmad noted that globally, 99,000 people have been infected with the virus, with only 200 fatalities, and the rest recovering. He stressed that only one mpox case has been identified in Pakistan, so there is no need for alarm.
Dr. Ahmad shared that the infected individual, who tested positive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), had recently returned from the Gulf region. Authorities have since isolated the individual’s family members as a precautionary measure.
“The government has developed a robust strategy to protect citizens from the virus,” Dr. Ahmad added. He also highlighted that screening and surveillance have been implemented at airports and entry points nationwide.
Laboratories across provinces, including the federal capital, are equipped to diagnose mpox. Travellers arriving from regions such as Africa, the United States, and the Gulf countries will be subject to screening.
Dr. Ahmad stated that under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, both the federal and provincial governments are taking proactive measures to curb the potential spread of the virus. The Ministry of Health is monitoring the situation closely, with daily meetings and assessments.
He advised people with a travel history or symptoms of mpox to isolate themselves and consult a qualified doctor. Dr. Ahmad noted that symptoms may take 10 to 15 days to appear, and prolonged exposure to an infected person can increase the risk of transmission. Quarantining the patient and using fever medication are recommended.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an emergency meeting following the diagnosis of the first mpox patient in KP. He emphasized the importance of vigilant monitoring to prevent the virus from spreading, referencing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency.
The prime minister instructed relevant authorities to ensure surveillance and screening at all airports, ports, and borders. The Border Health Services (BHS) was directed to enforce strict monitoring and surveillance.
According to WHO, mpox, related to the now-eradicated smallpox virus, spreads through close contact or contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, and needles. A new variant of the virus, which appears to spread more easily, has raised concerns globally, with a case confirmed in Sweden on Thursday, linked to a growing outbreak in Africa.
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